Banana plant named &#39;RA&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘RA’ is a cultivar of the ancestral banana line Gran Nain (GN), which belongs to  Musa acuminata  variety Cavendish. When compared to its ancestral line, ‘RA’ shows the following characteristics:
     1. Super heavy fruit bunch,   2. Especially long, and heavy fingers in a hand,   3. Wavy leaf lamina,   6. More fingers per hand,   7. Youngest unfolded leaves are tightly rolled,   8. Thicker pseudostem circumference,   9. Higher fruit yield per bunch,   10. More cylindrical bunch shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

‘RA’ is a triploid banana plant belonging to Musa acuminata (AAA)variety Cavendish. The RA clone is a mutant of the earlier selectionGran Nain originating in the Western Galilee, Israel. This mutant wascreated by an extensive process of tissue culture. The retro-transposingelement expression was used as a marker in the selection process (ii).The RA line was primarily selected on the basis of its fruit size, bunchweight, architecture and the quality of the fruit.

‘RA’ was created using the tissue culture technology as specified below.

i. A single distinctive plant was found in a banana plantation of thecultivated variety Gran Nain in the western Galilee, Israel. Thisplant's distinctive merits were its super large bunch and long fingers.

ii. A meristem from this plant was harvested when the shoot reached 45cm from the ground. This meristem was disinfected by immersion in 0.3%commercial sodium hypochlorite solution for 30 minutes, followed byseveral rinses with sterile distilled water. The disinfection processwas repeated three times as per above and subsequently the meristem(0.5×0.5 cm) was placed on a solid medium containing MS salts, 0.3% w/vsucrose, 10 mg. L⁻¹ benzyladenine, 1 mg L⁻¹ thidiazuron (TDZ), and MSvitamins (multiplication medium).

iii. The meristem was incubated for 4 weeks at 22 Celsius underflorescent lightening in a regime of 16/8 dark/light hours. The meristemwas subdivided longitudinally into 3 sub-meristems that were eachcultured separately. Each of the 3 sub-meristems was incubated for anadditional 4 weeks in conditions as described above.

iv. Following 24 subcultures as indicated in step iii, the subculturedmeristems were transferred onto a medium that contained MS salts, 0.1mg.L⁻¹ kinetin, MS vitamins, and 0.1 mg.L⁻¹1-naphthaleneacetic acid(NAA) (rooting and regeneration medium). The 24 subcultures in thepresence of 10 mg.L⁻¹ BA and 1 mg.L⁻¹ TDZ induce somaclonal variations(Khayat, 2004).

v. After 4 weeks of culture in the rooting and regeneration medium,under the environmental conditions indicated in step iii, the plantswere individually placed in 10 cm³ peat moss plugs in a greenhouse undermist irrigation. After an additional 4 weeks of growth, each plant wasplaced in a 5 L pot and let grow until it reached the height of about 60cm.

vi. At 60 cm. in height, the plants were removed from the pots andplanted in the field in Kibbutz Rosh Hanikra Western Galilee, Israel, ata density of approximately 200 plants per 1000 m². The total populationconsisted of 1500 plants.

vii. The resulting population was planted in the field (Western Galilee)and selected for:

-   -   1. High bunch weight    -   2. Open fingers in each hand on a bunch    -   3. Long and thick fingers    -   4. Early flowering and fruit maturation

viii. Four plants were selected from the entire population (1500plants). The meristems from these plants were placed in culture andpropagated to 500 plants per single meristem.

ix. The new population of 500 plants was reselected from in the fieldand the best performing plant according to the above criteria (see vii)was placed in culture and propagated to 500 plants that were examinedfor clonal stability. This population is distinctly different from ‘GranNain’ maintaining a significantly higher bunch weight and longerfingers. In addition, the population exhibited low deviation from themean with respect to bunch weight and finger length.

The RA selection was performed at Rahan Meristem (1998) LTD in RoshHanikra, the Western Galilee, Israel; by mutating an earlier selectionknown as Gran Nain, in 2007-2008. The mutation resulted as a consequenceof multiple subcultures in vitro. This type of mutation known assomaclonal variation is induced by an extensive process of tissueculture (ii).

Banana and plantains (Musa spp.) comprise major food sources for morethan 400 million people worldwide. Of the huge volume of fruitproduction approximately 15% is exported to remote markets. Most bananaand plantains are inter or intra hybrids between two species namely Musaacuminata (A genome) and Musa balbisiana (B genome). By far, the mostimportant export variety is Cavendish (a triploid AAA). In the 1950's,this variety replaced ‘Gros Michel’ which was almost wiped out due toattacks from a new strain of the fungal disease, Fusarium Wilt. Beingresistant to the disease combined with wide consumer acceptance inexport markets made ‘Cavendish’ irreplaceable. Due to double sterilityand the triploid nature of ‘Cavendish’, breeders have very limited toolsto improve the germplasm of this variety. Consequently, Cavendishbananas suffer from a variety of pests and diseases. Due to theinability of ‘Cavendish’ to cross hybridize there are very limitedsources of variability. In addition, in the cultivated variety GranNain, the fruit bunch is conical, i.e. the lower hands are smaller thanthe middle hands above them. As a result, the only hands that aresaleable in the export market are the upper hands, while the lower 2 to3 hands do not reach the standard size for the export market.Consequently, growers benefit only from approximately 60%-80% of thefruit on a bunch. The rest is discarded due to the fruit being too shortand thin to have requisite export market value. Beyond the loss of yielddue to every bunch having undersized fruit, there is also a labor costto remove this undesirable fruit. “Finger” size is a very importantqualitative parameter. For instance, most European countries require astandard minimum 17.5 cm for acceptance in the markets. The acceptedrule for ‘Cavendish’ in the banana fruit export market values largerfruit. Larger fruit is a measure of higher quality and obtains a premiummarket price. In addition, during shipment, due to the fruit abradingagainst each other, in each hand as well as between the hands, the fruitbecome damaged and looses quality, therefore becoming unmarketable inthe export marketplace. Consequently, banana growers and merchantsprefer hands having well spaced fingers, and bunches having separatedhands. An additional parameter appreciated by banana merchants ismaximal weight of each fruit finger in a hand. Market pressure requiresthat the fingers be uniform, heavy, long, and not abraded.

Based on somaclonal variation, breeders have selected clones thatexhibit better traits in the offspring in comparison to the wild type.Given that these chromosomal changes do not involve recombinationevents, they are rare and restricted to a narrow range of phenotypicvariations. Even with extensive tissue culture cycling, the rate ofvariation is low and entirely unpredictable. Nevertheless, some selectedclones are highly desired by banana growers due to their highperformance, mainly in terms of yield and plant architecture. Among themost popular selections ‘Gal’, ‘Jaffa’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,097,773B2) and ‘Adi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,645 P3) are widely used throughoutthe world. These last three selections were achieved using a uniquegenetic tool that has been developed to validate high enough levels ofmutations in the “in vitro” processed material (ii). This discovery wasachieved through elucidation of a mode of mutation that involvesexpression of a reto-transposing element known as BanR1 element.

The somaclone RA, developed by the inventors, is a unique Cavendishselection due to its extremely long fingers, open separation of fingersin a hand, well separated hands in a bunch, and uniform size along acylindrical shaped bunch.

The agri-technical properties of the Gran Nain line as well as itsgenetic instability make it a good candidate as an originator of the newselection. ‘Gran Nain’ is also known for its intermediate stature, itsfast return from appearance of sucker to development of the fruit andfor its high response to optimal water and fertilizer regimens. In TABLE1 below, there is a comparison of various plant architecture parametersbetween the common cultivars Gran Nain, Jaffa, Gal, Adi, and RA, allgrown in the same location under the same cultivation procedure at thesame time.

TABLE 1 Num- Aver- Average Average Average Weeks ber age Bunch FingerFinger Date of to Cul- of Height Weight Length Weight Flower- Har- tivarplants cm kg cm gm ing vest RA 167 330 58.5 27.4 229.0 August 5 10 ADI148 240 47.8 23.5 189.6 August 5 10 GAL 102 320 43.0 24.5 183.5 July 2911 JAFFA 155 390 50.6 25.9 196.4 July 29 11 GRAN 400 320 42.5 20.2 179.8July 29 9 NAIN

2. Description of relevant prior art. The data shows that ‘RA’ issimilar to ‘Gran Nain’ in most parameters except for the finger size andfruit bunch architecture. The unique characteristics of the ‘RA’ areimprovements in fruit quality and increased total marketable yield.These characteristics are demonstrated by a larger finger size for theentire bunch including the lower hands. This is a dramatic improvementas the lower hands are traditionally wasted in ‘Gran Nain’. Largerfinger size in all the hands enables the grower to benefit fromcommercialization of the lower hands in the bunch FIG. 1.

‘RA’ is easily recognizable in the field due to the wavy morphology ofthe leaf lamina FIG. 2. This morphology contributes to a larger leafsize index for the same leaf area. In a dense banana plantation the wavystructure of the leaf contributes to a higher light interception indexon the leaf surface in a given leaf area. Another importantcharacteristic of ‘RA’ is its higher number of fingers in a handcompared to its originator Gran Nain FIG. 3. An additional feature of‘RA’ is the morphology of the newly developed leaves in a mature plant.Unlike ‘Gran Nain’ the phenotype of the newest leaves in ‘RA’ FIG. 4 isvery compactly rolled, resulting in a very small portion of the leaflamina being exposed to the outside compared to ‘Gran Nain’ which isvery loosely folded with approximately half of its leaf lamina exposed.

This new cultivar RA, was asexually produced from corms using the tissueculture procedure developed by the inventors in Rahan Meristem (1998)LTD laboratories in Rosh Hanikra, Israel. ‘RA’ characteristics have beenproven stable in the field for at least four consecutive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention we describe a distinct elite Cavendishcultivar, RA, that combines a super heavy bunch, especially long, thickand heavy fingers, with more fingers per hand, wavy leaf lamina, withthe youngest leaf tightly rolled, thicker pseudostem circumference, anda higher fruit yield per bunch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the average weight (kg) of the lowest hand of ‘RA’ and‘Gran Nain’ (GN) banana bunches.

FIG. 2 shows the wavy morphology of ‘RA’ leaf lamina compared to theflat leaves of ‘GN’.

FIG. 3 shows the average number of fingers in the middle hand of ‘RA’and ‘GN’ banana bunches.

FIG. 4 shows the phenotype of compactly rolled new ‘RA’ leaves.

FIG. 4 also shows an ‘RA’ plant and a ‘GN’ plant side by side, 5 monthspost planting, prior to flower initiation.

FIG. 5 shows the average bunch weight (kg) of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’.

FIG. 6 shows the average finger length (cm) of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ bananafruit.

FIG. 7 shows the average number of marketable hands in ‘RA’ and ‘GN’banana bunches.

FIG. 8 shows the average finger circumference (cm) of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’.

FIG. 9 shows the average weight (kg) of the upper hand of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’banana bunches.

FIG. 10 shows the average finger weight (kg) of the middle finger in themiddle hand, of the whorl of fruit facing the internal part of the hand,of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’.

FIG. 11 shows a typical ‘RA’ banana plant including a fruit bunch,approximately 1 month prior to harvesting.

FIG. 12 shows a typical ‘GN’ banana plant including a fruit bunchapproximately one month prior to harvesting.

FIG. 13 shows a comparison of hand #12 (counting from the top downwards)in a bunch for both ‘Gran Nain’ and ‘RA’.

FIG. 14 shows the average height (cm) of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’.

FIG. 15 shows the average circumference of pseudostem (cm) of ‘RA’ and‘GN’ banana plants.

FIG. 16 shows the average length of the male flower (cm) of ‘RA’ and‘GN’.

FIG. 17 shows the average circumference (cm) of the male flower of ‘RA’and ‘GN’.

FIG. 18 shows the average number of true leaves of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ atflowering.

FIG. 19 shows the average number of suckers of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ at the timeof the first cycle of the fruit harvest.

The most apparent distinguishing morphological features between ‘RA’ andits originator GN are the yield, finger size and weight, and bunchstructure as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8,FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13. These FIG.' s expressthe components that contribute to ‘RA″s higher yield compared to ‘GN’.The major distinguishing component between ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ is finger size.The average finger weight of ‘RA’ is significantly higher than in “GN’amounting to approximately 22% more weight in ‘RA’ fingers compared tothe weight of ‘GN’ fingers FIG. 10. This phenomenon is due to longerfingers in the ‘RA’ (approximately 26% longer than ‘GN’) FIG. 6, whilethe fruits circumference does not differ significantly FIG. 8. Theexport market requires a minimum of 21 cm in length per finger toqualify as grade “A” fruit. Note, in FIG. 13 hand #12 is alwaysmarketable in ‘RA’ but typically not marketable in ‘GN’. The higherfinger weights combined with the higher number of marketable hands perbunch in ‘RA’ results in approximately 20% higher marketable yield forthe ‘RA’ compared to ‘GN’ FIG. 6, FIG. 7. Despite the fact that thenumber of hands is similar, the ‘RA’ provides a better yield to thegrower due to the longer fingers in all the hands, especially in thelowest hands.

FIG. 1: Average weight (kg) of the lowest hand (hand #12) on a bunch ofbanana (Musa acuminata AAA, cv. Cavendish) cultivars RA and GN. Bananaplants were grown under a net in a commercial field in the WesternGalilee, Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest of the secondcycle of production (15 months after planting) in November 2013. Valuesrepresent the mean hand weight from 35 plants in each of the cultivarsRA and GN±standard error. Fertigation and other cultural applicationswere carried out according to commercial banana plantation practices inthe Western Galilee, Israel.

The leaf lamina in ‘GN’ is flat while the ‘RA’ leaf shows a wavy surfacephenotype as demonstrated in FIG. 2. The wavy leaf characteristic allowsthe leaf to have more light interception on the surface of the leaf perunit area of the leaf. Given the high density of planting in bananaplantations (up to 2000 plants per hectare) light interception per leafarea is an important factor to photosynthesis and total fixation ofcarbon dioxide.

FIG. 2 shows the wavy morphology of ‘RA’ leaf lamina compared to theflat leaves of ‘GN’. The comparison was performed on the second youngestfully expanded leaf in both cultivars. For both ‘Gran Nain’ and ‘RA’ theleaf lamina of the 3^(rd) fully expended youngest leaf was cut in themiddle portion of the leaf 10 cm from the main vein. Banana plants weregrown under a net in a commercial field in the Western Galilee Israel.Photos were taken at harvest of the first cycle of production (15 monthsafter planting) in November 2013. Fertigation and other culturalapplications were carried out according to commercial banana plantationpractices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 3: Shows the average number of fingers in the middle hand of RA andGN banana (Musa acuminata AAA, cv. Cavendish) fruit at time of harvest.Banana plants were grown under a net in a commercial field in theWestern Galilee Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest of thefirst cycle of production (15 months after planting) in November 2013.Values represent the average number of fingers from 35 plants in each ofthe selections RA and GN±standard error. Fertigation and other culturalapplications were carried out according to commercial banana plantationpractices in the Western Galilee (Israel). FIG. 3 shows that the averagenumber of fingers in a hand is 10% higher in ‘RA’ in comparison to ‘GN’.It is common practice to remove at least one of the lowest hands in thebunch prior to fruit fill in the field due to its short finger length.In the case of ‘RA’, this practice is unnecessary due to the cylindricalshape of the bunch FIG. 11 compared to the conical shape of the fruitbunch in ‘GN’ FIG. 12.

Another important feature of ‘RA’ is the tightly rolled youngest leaf.This structure results in minimal leaf surface exposure of the outsideof the youngest leaf FIG. 4. Prior art shows that the site of infectionby spores of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, the most severe Cavendishdisease, is the abaxial side of the youngest unfolded leaf (Churchill2010). Meredith and Lawrence (1969) have described the stages ofdevelopment of black leaf streak disease. In their publication, theyindicated that the site of infection is the youngest unfolded leaf. Thischaracteristic may contribute to retardation of progression of the BlackSigatoka disease.

FIG. 4: shows the comparison of plant structure of ‘GN’ and ‘RA’ grownin the same field side by side approximately 5 months post planting. Theplants were produced by tissue culture with the same protocol andtransferred to the field approximately 12 weeks after initiation ofhardening. The plants of both varieties were planted on the Apr. 15,2012 and the photo was taken Sep. 15, 2012. Fertigation and othercultural applications were carried out according to commercial bananaplantation practices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 5: shows the average bunch weight (kg) of RA and GN banana

(Musa acuminata AAA, cv. Cavendish) fruit. The plants described in thisdocument were grown under a net in a commercial field in the WesternGalilee Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest of the firstcycle of production (15 months after planting) in November 2013. Valuesrepresent the average bunch weight of the third 4-5 counting from thetop (basipatally) from 35 bunches in each of the cultivars RA andGN±standard error. Fertigation and other cultural applications werecarried out according to commercial banana plantation practices in theWestern Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 6: shows average finger length (cm) of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ banana fruit.Banana plants (Musa acuminata AAA, variety Cavendish) were grown under anet in a commercial field in the Western Galilee Israel. Measurementswere performed at harvest of the first cycle of production (15 monthsafter planting) in November 2013. Values represent the average fingerlength from 35 bunches in each of the selections RA and GN±standarderror. Fertigation and other cultural applications were carried outaccording to commercial banana plantation practices in the WesternGalilee (Israel).

It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art that fingerlength is a major qualitative factor for the banana export market. In‘RA’ both the upper most hand as well as the lower most hand reachpremium size of more than 21 cm. The finger length of ‘RA’ in the middlehand FIG. 6 (hand #5 from the top proximal hand) is approximately 26%higher than ‘GN’. In fact, the ‘RA’ fingers are longer than any otherknown Cavendish cultivar TABLE 1.

FIG. 7: shows average number of total hands per bunch in RA and GNbanana (Musa acuminata AAA, cv. Cavendish) selections. Banana plantswere grown under a net in a commercial field in the Western GalileeIsrael. Measurements were performed at harvest of the first cycle ofproduction (15 months after planting) in November 2013. Values representthe average number of total hands from 35 plants in each of theselections RA and GN±standard error. Fertigation and other culturalapplications were carried out according to commercial banana plantationpractices in the Western Galilee (Israel). Although FIG. 7 shows anequal number of hands in ‘RA’ and ‘GN’, due to ‘RA” s longer fingers,the number of marketable hands in ‘RA’ is greater than in ‘GN’ FIG. 12.

FIG. 8: The average finger circumference (cm) of RA and GN (Musaacuminata AAA, variety Cavendish) fruit at time of harvest. Therepresentative finger was selected from middle hand as indicated in FIG.10. The middle finger in the lower row of fruit was sampled for themeasurements. Banana plants were grown under a net in a commercial fieldin the Western Galilee Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest ofthe first cycle of production (15 months after planting) in November2013. Values represent the average finger circumference from 35 plantsin each of the selections RA and GN±standard error. Fertigation andother cultural applications were carried out according to commercialbanana plantation practices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 9: Average weight (kg) of highest hand on a bunch of banana (Musaacuminata AAA, variety Cavendish) cultivars RA and GN. Banana plantswere grown under a net in a commercial field in the Western Galilee,Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest of the second cycle ofproduction (15 months after planting) in November 2013. Values representthe average upper most hand weight from 35 plants in each of theselections RA and GN±standard error. Fertigation and other culturalapplications were carried out according to commercial banana plantationpractices in the Western Galilee, Israel.

FIG. 10: Shows a graph comparing the middle finger of the middle handbetween representative middle hands of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’. Eachrepresentative hand is the 3^(rd) hand from the inner whorl of theproximal end of the bunch, measured at harvest. Bunches were harvestedon Sep. 15, 2013 on a plantation in Western Galilee, Israel. FIG. 10shows the average weight (g) of the middle finger, the inner whorl offruit, of the third hand from the top on a bunch of banana (Musaacuminata AAA, variety Cavendish) cultivars RA and GN. Banana plantswere grown under a net in a commercial field in the Western Galilee,Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest of the second cycle ofproduction (15 months after planting) in November 2013. Values representthe mean hand weight from 35 plants in each of the cultivars RA andGN±standard error. Fertigation and other cultural applications werecarried out according to commercial banana plantation practices in theWestern Galilee, Israel.

FIG. 11: shows ‘RA’ grown in the field at a density of 1700 plants perhectare. The plants were produced by tissue culture with the sameprotocol and transferred to the field approximately 12 weeks afterinitiation of hardening. The plants of both varieties were planted onthe Apr. 15, 2012 and the photo was taken Sep. 15, 2013. Fertigation andother cultural applications were carried out according to commercialbanana plantation practices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 12: shows ‘GN’ grown in the field at a density of 1700 plants perhectare. The plants were produced by tissue culture with the sameprotocol and transferred to the field approximately 12 weeks afterinitiation of hardening. The plants of both cvs. were planted on theApr. 15, 2012 and the photo was taken Sep. 15, 2013. Fertigation andother cultural applications were carried out according to commercialbanana plantation practices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 13, shows a comparison of hand number 12 between ‘RA’ (top) and‘GN’ (bottom). The plants of both cvs. were planted on Apr. 15, 2012,and the photo was taken on Oct. 22, 2013. Fertigation and other culturalapplications were carried out according to commercial banana plantationpractices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 14 and Table 1: show average height (cm) of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ bananaplants. The average height (cm) of RA and GN banana plants (Musaacuminata AAA, cv. Cavendish) measured after completion of flowering,FIG. 14. Banana plants were grown under a net in a commercial field inthe Western Galilee Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest ofthe first cycle of production (15 months after planting) in November2013. Values represent the average height from soil level to the bentneck of the fruit bunch from 35 plants from each of the cultivars RA andGN±standard error. Fertigation and other cultural applications werecarried out according to commercial banana plantation practices in theWestern Galilee (Israel). The difference in height, FIG. 14, between‘RA’ and ‘GN’ is approximately 20 cm but is not significant enough tocreate a problem for the growers.

FIG. 15: shows average the circumference of pseudostem (cm) of RA and GNbanana plants (Musa acuminata AAA, variety Cavendish) measured aftercompletion of flowering. Banana plants were grown under a net in acommercial field in the Western Galilee Israel. Measurements wereperformed at harvest of the first cycle of production (15 months afterplanting) in November 2013. Values represent the average circumferenceat soil level of the pseudostems of 35 plants from each of theselections RA and GN±standard error. Fertigation and other culturalapplications were carried out according to commercial banana plantationpractices in the Western Galilee (Israel). As shown in FIG. 15, ‘RA’'spseudostem circumference is on the average 12% thicker than ‘GN’ (82 cmv 72 cm respectively).

FIG. 16: shows the average length of the male flower (cm) of ‘RA’ and‘GN’. Banana plants were grown under a net in a commercial field in theWestern Galilee Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest of thefirst cycle of production (15 months after planting) in November 2013.Values represent the average finger length from 35 plants in each of thecultivars RA and GN±standard error. Fertigation and other culturalapplications were carried out according to commercial banana plantationpractices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 17: shows the average circumference (cm) of the male flower of ‘RA’and ‘GN’. Banana plants were grown under a net in a commercial field inthe Western Galilee Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest ofthe first cycle of production (15 months after planting) in November2013. Values represent the average male flower circumference from 35plants in each of the cultivars RA and GN±standard error. Fertigationand other cultural applications were carried out according to commercialbanana plantation practices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 18: shows the average number of true leaves of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ atflowering. Banana plants were grown under a net in a commercial field inthe Western Galilee Israel. Measurements were performed at harvest ofthe first cycle of production (15 months after planting) in November2013. Values represent the average number of true leaves from 35 plantsin each of the cultivars RA and GN±standard error. Fertigation and othercultural applications were carried out according to commercial bananaplantation practices in the Western Galilee (Israel).

FIG. 19: shows the average number of suckers of ‘RA’ and ‘GN’ at thetime of the first cycle of the fruit harvest. Banana plants were grownunder a net in a commercial field in the Western Galilee Israel.Measurements were performed at harvest of the first cycle of production(15 months after planting) in November 2013. Values represent theaverage number of suckers from 35 plants in each of the cultivars RA andGN±standard error. Fertigation and other cultural applications werecarried out according to commercial banana plantation practices in theWestern Galilee (Israel).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Detailed botanical description of the new and distinct selection RA,which includes its general appearance, pseudostem and suckers, petiole,midrib, leaf, inflorescence and male bud, flower bract, male flower, andfruit. This description is based on observations of specimens grown inthe Western Galilee, Israel, 20 months after planting. The plantation isat 18 m above sea level, approximately 800 m east of the MediterraneanSea, next to the town of Shlomi in the Western Galilee, Israel. Thedescription is based on an observation of approximately 50 plants grownin a commercial plantation. Data was collected between August andSeptember 2012. The descriptors presented herein are in accordance withand include all of the 117 international standards found in “Descriptorsfor Banana (Musa spp.)” elaborated by CIRAD/INIBAP/IPGRI. The colorterminology is in accordance with The U.K.'s Royal HorticulturalSociety's Color Chart, 2001.

-   Pseudostem: Height: 2 — (2.1 to 2.9 m), Ploidy: Triploid(AAA).-   General appearance: Leaf habit: 2 — Intermediate.    -   -   Aspect.—67.5 cm (5 plants).        -   Pseudostem color.—Light Green (10-164C).        -   Appearance.—2 — Shiny (not waxy).        -   Pigmentation of the underlying pseudostem.—1 — Pink-Purple.        -   Sap color.—1 — Watery.        -   Wax on leaf sheaths.—1 — No visible signs of wax.        -   Number of suckers.—7.        -   Position of suckers.—2 — Close to parent (vertical growth).-   Petiole: Blotches at petiole base: 4 — Extensive pigmentation.    -   -   Blotches color.—2 — Dark Brown.        -   Petiole canal leaf III.—2 — Wide with erect margins.        -   Petiole margins.—2 —Winged and not clasping the pseudostem.        -   Wing type.—2 —Not dry.        -   Petiole wing color.—1 — Green.        -   Petiole margin color.—1 — Green.        -   Edge of petiole margin.—2 — With a color line along            Pink-purple.        -   Petiole margin width: 2 —>1 cm.-   Leaf blade:    -   -   Length.—2 — 171 to 220 cm.        -   Leaf blade width.—3 — 81 to 90 cm.        -   Leaf ratio.—5 — 2.4 to 2.6.        -   Petiole length: 1 —<50 cm.        -   Color of leaf upper surface.—4 — Dark green.        -   Appearance of leaf upper surface.—1 — Dull.        -   Color of leaf lower surface.—3 — Green.        -   Appearance of leaf lower surface.—1 — Dull.        -   Wax on leaves.—1 — No visible sign of wax.        -   Insertion point of leaf blades on petiole.—2 — Asymmetric.        -   Shape of leaf blade base.—3 — Both sides pointed.        -   Leaf corrugation.—1 — Even, smooth.        -   Color of midrib ventral surface.—7 — Medium green.        -   Color of cigar leaf dorsal surface.—2 — Light green.        -   Blotches on leaves of water suckers.—1 — Without blotches.-   Inflorescence/male bud: Peduncle length: 2 —31-60 cm.    -   -   Empty nodes on peduncle.—0.        -   Peduncle width.—3 —>13 cm (average=22cm).        -   Peduncle color.—3 —Dark green.        -   Peduncle hairiness.—3 — Very hairy, short hairs.        -   Bunch position.—2 — Slightly angled.        -   Bunch shape.—1 — Cylindrical.        -   Bunch appearance.—2 — Compact.-   Rachis:    -   -   Type.—2 — Present.        -   Position.—1 — Falling vertically.        -   Male bud type.—1 — Normal (present).        -   Male bud shape.—4 — Ovoid.        -   Male bud length.—2 —21-30 cm.        -   Diameter of male bud.—>31 cm.-   Bract:    -   -   Base shape.—2 — Medium.        -   Bract apex shape.—2 — Slightly pointed.        -   Color of the bract external face.—5 — Purple-brown.        -   Color of the bract internal face.—2 — Yellow.        -   Color stripes on bract.—2 — With discolored lines on the            external face.        -   Bract scars on rachis.—1 — Very prominent.        -   Fading of color on bract base.—1 — Color discoloring towards            the base.        -   Male bract shape.—3 — Ovate.        -   Male bract lifting.—3 — Lifting two or more at a time.        -   Bract behavior before falling.—1 — Revolute.        -   Wax on the bract.—1 — No visible sign of wax.        -   Presence of grooves on the bract.—2 — Moderate grooving.-   Male flower: Data taken at completion of flower emergence.    -   -   Male flower behavior.—3 — Falling after the bract.        -   Compound tepal basic color.—2 — Cream.        -   Compound tepal pigmentation.—2 — Rust-colored spots.        -   Lobe color of compound tepal.—2 — Yellow.        -   Free tepal appearance.—3 — Several folding under apex            (corrugated).        -   Style shape.—1 — Straight.        -   Stigma color.—1 — Cream.        -   Ovary basic color.—2 — Cream.        -   Ovary pigmentation.—1 — No visible sign of pigmentation.-   Fruit:    -   -   Position.—3 — Curved upwards (obliquely, at a 45° angle            upward).        -   Number of fruit per hand.—2 — 13-16.        -   Fruit length.—4 — 26-30 cm.        -   Fruit shape longitudinal curvature.—3 — Sharp curve.        -   Fruit circumference.—12.5 cm.        -   Fruit pedicel length.—3 —>21 mm.        -   Pedicel surface.—2 — Hairy.        -   Immature fruit peel color.—6 — Dark green.        -   Mature fruit peel color.—2 — Bright yellow.        -   Fruit peel thickness.—2 — 3 mm or more.        -   Adherence of the fruit peel.—1 — Fruit peels easily.        -   Cracks in fruit peel.—1 — Without cracks.        -   Pulp in fruit.—2 — With pulp.        -   Pulp color before maturity.—1 — White.        -   Pulp color at maturity.—2 — Cream.        -   Fruit is eaten.—Ripe.

It is claimed:
 1. ‘RA’, a new and distinct cultivated variety of bananaplant, substantially as illustrated and described, that forms a superheavy bunch, especially long, and heavy fingers, with more fingers perhand, wavy leaf lamina, with the youngest leaves tightly rolled, thickerpseudostem circumference, a higher fruit yield per bunch, and a morecylindrical bunch shape than ‘Gran Nain’.